It’s Complicated

Why I’m Jealous of Grieving People

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Dad died when I was 6, and life went on seemingly undeterred. All these years later, I find myself envious of those who have the chance to mourn.

Was My Dead Ex Talking to Me From Inside the TV?

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Was my dead ex talking to me from inside the TV?

After My Miscarriage, I Was Still Pregnant

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We were expecting triplets. So why does everyone insist on calling it a 'blessing in disguise' that only two of our babies made it to term?

Sleeping Through Grandma’s Death

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When I finally came to after a months-long coma, my beloved grandmother was gone.

He’s Dead, But He’s No Saint

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My husband cheated on me again and again — but people give him a pass because he died in a tragic Thanksgiving Day scuba accident.

My Dad, Forever a Stranger

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For 16 years I had no relationship with my father, a devoted Scientologist. When he died, I realized just how little I knew about him — and he about me.

Hard Time

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Uncle Billy, the father figure in my life, came back from prison broken and distant. And before long, he was dead — leaving me to wrestle with his complicated legacy.

The Breakup

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Just over a year after my mom died, my boyfriend of three years walked out — carrying his deodorant and phone charger. And then, I was grieving all over again.

Recital Envy

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At my daughters' concerts and school performances, I see all the happy grandparents, snapping photos and bearing flowers. That's when I feel my own mother's loss most acutely.

Losing Grandma Twice

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Dementia stole my grandmother long ago, leaving me to mourn her all over again when she died years later.

Fighting White Privilege, Grieving My White Mother

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The problems with international adoption are many. But I cannot reject the mother who raised me — especially in her absence.

The Words We Couldn’t Say

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As my daughter grew inside of me, my best friend's pregnancy ended in stillbirth. Comforting her felt impossible.

Mourning Tina, the Nanny Who Raised Me

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When strangers ask me if my necklace is a family heirloom, the answer is not so easy as yes or no.

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